National Student Exchange:

School You Can Attend, and Selection Tips

National Student Exchange includes almost 200 schools, and you can apply to go to any of them! The schools vary in size, location, and academic offerings. They're scattered across the continental U.S. and Canada, and also include Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

NSE offers something for students with almost any interest or affiliation. NSE schools also offer a range of ethnic diversity. For example, 14 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) participate in NSE, as do 21 schools that serve predominantly Latino students.

Visit the national NSE website to learn more and to access the list of participating schools/campuses. There, the most helpful information about each host school is available in the Member Campus Profiles section, on the right side of the page. You can also stop by the U of M's Off-Campus Study Programs office to pick up an NSE directory.

Campus Selection Tips

Nearly 200 colleges and universities participate in National Student Exchange. Selecting the best campus for your personal and academic interests and needs is a challenging task. Allow yourself plenty of time to research the many school options. Take into account academic programs, location, travel expenses, and any other factors that are relevant to you. Here are some additional research tools:

The Information for Students section of the national NSE website provides general information, also specific information about every school that participates in NSE. There, the most helpful information about each host school is in the Member Campus Profiles section (on the right side of the page). You can also search by major.

Explore the websites of the NSE schools that interest you.

Talk with your academic advisor(s), parents, other family members, and friends about your exchange plans.

Feel free to contact the NSE staff in the Off-Campus Study Programs office if you have questions or need additional advice.

Placement Statistics:
For more than two decades, 97% of all NSE applicants have been placed, with 83% of these placed at their first-choice school. The U of M's NSE Coordinator (in 240 Appleby Hall) has access to placement history and individual campus placement statistics to assist you in making campus selections that will provide the best probability of placement at your preferred schools. To improve your placement chances, select at least three schools. Assuming you meet the elibigility requirements.... Choosing at least one "open" campus on the payment plan on which you can participate will ensure a placement.

Choosing Back-Up Campuses:
Not every student will be placed at their first-choice campus. NSE schools determine the number of students they can accept based on a variety of factors:

Look at the top left hand section of each member campus profile at nse.org. If a school is listed as "Even" or "1 to 1" in the sidebar black box, it is especially important to have a couple back-up choices. "Open" and "uneven" exchanges are easier to make.

The number of students they are sending (under Plan A and Plan B) on exchange.

The number of applicants they have from other schools.

The school's "preferences" listed in the NSE Directory.

On the application form, you will be asked to list up to four schools that you are interested in going to on exchange. If your first-choice campus is not available, it will be necessary to have back-up choices identified in order to secure a placement for you. Please only select campuses to which you are willing to exchange to; do not list campuses that you have no interest in going to.

Email the NSE coordinator at holli107@umn.edu if you need help choosing your first-choice or back-up campuses.